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THE CAP TABLE PITCH COMPETITION RETURNS IN 2027
Ambitious founders deserve the opportunity to be seen, heard and backed.
The next Cap Table Pitch Competition will launch in 2027, creating a new opportunity for ambitious, underrepresented founders to access investment, expert support, influential networks and greater visibility.
Register your interest now to be among the first to receive competition dates, application details and opportunities to get involved.
Register your interest
Ambitious founders deserve the opportunity to be seen, heard and backed.
The next Cap Table Pitch Competition will launch in 2027, creating a new opportunity for ambitious, underrepresented founders to access investment, expert support, influential networks and greater visibility.
Register your interest now to be among the first to receive competition dates, application details and opportunities to get involved.
Register your interest
GREAT BUSINESSES ARE BEING BUILT EVERYWHERE
Investment opportunity is not reaching founders equally.
Too many talented entrepreneurs continue to be overlooked, underestimated and under-backed, not because they lack ambition or business potential, but because they have not had equal access to investment, influential networks and the rooms where important decisions are made.
We do not believe this reflects a shortage of ambitious founders, innovative ideas or investible businesses.
It reflects a shortage of access, visibility and opportunity.
The Cap Table Pitch Competition was created to help change that.
Delivered by Forbes Family Group with support from leading investment, banking and business partners, Cap Table identifies ambitious founders building scalable businesses and connects them with feedback, coaching, visibility, strategic relationships and potential investment.
This is more than an opportunity to pitch. It is an opportunity to be seen, heard and backed.
Too many talented entrepreneurs continue to be overlooked, underestimated and under-backed, not because they lack ambition or business potential, but because they have not had equal access to investment, influential networks and the rooms where important decisions are made.
We do not believe this reflects a shortage of ambitious founders, innovative ideas or investible businesses.
It reflects a shortage of access, visibility and opportunity.
The Cap Table Pitch Competition was created to help change that.
Delivered by Forbes Family Group with support from leading investment, banking and business partners, Cap Table identifies ambitious founders building scalable businesses and connects them with feedback, coaching, visibility, strategic relationships and potential investment.
This is more than an opportunity to pitch. It is an opportunity to be seen, heard and backed.
WHAT FOUNDERS CAN EXPECT
Selected founders will have the opportunity to:
Present their businesses to investors and business leaders
Receive expert feedback on their investment proposition
Access coaching and strategic support
Strengthen their business model and pitch
Build relationships across the Cap Table network
Increase the visibility of their business
Compete for potential investment and financial support
Join a growing community backing underrepresented founders
Full details of the 2027 competition, including the investment and prize structure, will be announced ahead of applications opening.
Participation in the competition will not guarantee investment or financial support.
Present their businesses to investors and business leaders
Receive expert feedback on their investment proposition
Access coaching and strategic support
Strengthen their business model and pitch
Build relationships across the Cap Table network
Increase the visibility of their business
Compete for potential investment and financial support
Join a growing community backing underrepresented founders
Full details of the 2027 competition, including the investment and prize structure, will be announced ahead of applications opening.
Participation in the competition will not guarantee investment or financial support.
WHO CAP TABLE IS FOR
We want to hear from ambitious founders who are building businesses with the potential to grow and make a meaningful impact.
We are particularly interested in founders who:
Are solving a clear and important problem
Have progressed beyond the initial idea stage
Are developing a scalable business
Can demonstrate meaningful progress or market evidence
Are building in the UK or planning to enter the UK market
Have historically faced barriers to investment, networks or opportunity
You do not need to have raised investment before.
You do not need to come from an established entrepreneurial network.
You do not need to have received the same introductions or opportunities as other founders.
You do need the ambition, commitment and potential to build something significant.
We are particularly interested in founders who:
Are solving a clear and important problem
Have progressed beyond the initial idea stage
Are developing a scalable business
Can demonstrate meaningful progress or market evidence
Are building in the UK or planning to enter the UK market
Have historically faced barriers to investment, networks or opportunity
You do not need to have raised investment before.
You do not need to come from an established entrepreneurial network.
You do not need to have received the same introductions or opportunities as other founders.
You do need the ambition, commitment and potential to build something significant.
BACKING UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNDER-BACKED FOUNDERS
Cap Table is deliberately designed to widen access to investment, support and visibility for founders who remain underrepresented and under-backed within entrepreneurship and investment.
We particularly encourage interest from:
Black founders
Asian founders
Founders from other minority ethnic backgrounds
Women founders
Disabled founders
Neurodivergent founders
LGBTQIA+ founders
Founders from lower-income backgrounds
Founders who have faced other systemic barriers
This list is not exhaustive. We recognise that underrepresentation takes different forms and that founders may experience several overlapping barriers.
Our intention is not to lower the standard for investment.
It is to widen access, recognise potential more fairly and ensure that strong founders are not excluded because they have not had access to the right networks, introductions or opportunities.
We particularly encourage interest from:
Black founders
Asian founders
Founders from other minority ethnic backgrounds
Women founders
Disabled founders
Neurodivergent founders
LGBTQIA+ founders
Founders from lower-income backgrounds
Founders who have faced other systemic barriers
This list is not exhaustive. We recognise that underrepresentation takes different forms and that founders may experience several overlapping barriers.
Our intention is not to lower the standard for investment.
It is to widen access, recognise potential more fairly and ensure that strong founders are not excluded because they have not had access to the right networks, introductions or opportunities.
BUILDING ON CAP TABLE’S IMPACT
Cap Table has already helped connect ambitious founders with investment, coaching, visibility and influential business networks.
Across previous competitions and founder initiatives:
More than 500 founders have been supported
More than £150,000 has been deployed
More than £50,000 of partner-led support has been provided
Previous founders have gone on to secure follow-on investment
One supported founder subsequently raised a £1.4 million seed round
In 2025, the competition received more than 140 applications and awarded £60,000 across four outstanding businesses.
2025 Winners and Finalists
Watch the 2025 Winners Announcement on Instagram
You can also explore previous Cap Table winners and competitors, including Needi, The Vegan Patty Lady, Gusto Snacks, Lukango, Sling, Prolithink and Your Cue.
Across previous competitions and founder initiatives:
More than 500 founders have been supported
More than £150,000 has been deployed
More than £50,000 of partner-led support has been provided
Previous founders have gone on to secure follow-on investment
One supported founder subsequently raised a £1.4 million seed round
In 2025, the competition received more than 140 applications and awarded £60,000 across four outstanding businesses.
2025 Winners and Finalists
- Borough 22
- Yendy
- March Muses
- Elvardi
Watch the 2025 Winners Announcement on Instagram
You can also explore previous Cap Table winners and competitors, including Needi, The Vegan Patty Lady, Gusto Snacks, Lukango, Sling, Prolithink and Your Cue.
YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE NEXT
The founders we want to reach may not always have access to established investor networks.
They may not have received the same introductions, encouragement or opportunities as others.
But they are building ambitious businesses, solving important problems and demonstrating the potential to grow.
The Cap Table Pitch Competition exists to ensure that more of those founders are seen, supported and seriously considered for investment.
The next competition launches in 2027.
Register your interest now and we will let you know when dates, eligibility criteria and application details are announced.
Register your interest
Sunday 9 August: Applications Open
Applications for the Cap Table Pitch Competition 2026 officially open. You will be able to save your application and return to improve it before submitting.
Tuesday 25 August: Cap Table Pitch Competition Q&A Session
Join this online session to learn more about the competition, understand what makes a strong application and ask questions about the process.
The session will cover:
Start your application before attending.
Reviewing the application in advance will help you ask more specific questions and get greater value from the session.
Register for the Online Q&A Session
Monday 7 September: HSBC Innovation Banking Founder Readiness Workshop
Applicants can apply to attend an exclusive, in-person founder workshop hosted by HSBC Innovation Banking in central London.
The session will provide practical guidance on building a scalable and investible business, preparing to raise finance and strengthening your investment proposition.
The workshop will take place from 5.00pm to 7:30pm. Places are limited and submitting the form does not guarantee selection.
Start your application before attending.
Apply for the HSBC Innovation Banking Workshop
Tuesday 15 September: Application Deadline
Final applications must be submitted by 11.59pm. Applications that have only been saved and not formally submitted will not be considered.
Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October: Public Vote
Shortlisted founders will take part in a public voting campaign, with two founders progressing to the semi-final.
October: Semi-Finalists Announced and Coaching Begins
Twelve semi-finalists will be selected and receive tailored support to strengthen their proposition, investment case and pitch.
Early November: Semi-Final
Twelve founders will pitch online to a judging panel, with four progressing to the Grand Final.
Tuesday 1 December: Grand Final
Four finalists will pitch live in London to judges, investors and guests for the opportunity to secure investment and support.
They may not have received the same introductions, encouragement or opportunities as others.
But they are building ambitious businesses, solving important problems and demonstrating the potential to grow.
The Cap Table Pitch Competition exists to ensure that more of those founders are seen, supported and seriously considered for investment.
The next competition launches in 2027.
Register your interest now and we will let you know when dates, eligibility criteria and application details are announced.
Register your interest
Sunday 9 August: Applications Open
Applications for the Cap Table Pitch Competition 2026 officially open. You will be able to save your application and return to improve it before submitting.
Tuesday 25 August: Cap Table Pitch Competition Q&A Session
Join this online session to learn more about the competition, understand what makes a strong application and ask questions about the process.
The session will cover:
- What the judges will be looking for
- How applications will be assessed
- What makes an effective application
- How the Public Vote, semi-final and Grand Final stages work
- What support is available to selected founders
Start your application before attending.
Reviewing the application in advance will help you ask more specific questions and get greater value from the session.
Register for the Online Q&A Session
Monday 7 September: HSBC Innovation Banking Founder Readiness Workshop
Applicants can apply to attend an exclusive, in-person founder workshop hosted by HSBC Innovation Banking in central London.
The session will provide practical guidance on building a scalable and investible business, preparing to raise finance and strengthening your investment proposition.
The workshop will take place from 5.00pm to 7:30pm. Places are limited and submitting the form does not guarantee selection.
Start your application before attending.
Apply for the HSBC Innovation Banking Workshop
Tuesday 15 September: Application Deadline
Final applications must be submitted by 11.59pm. Applications that have only been saved and not formally submitted will not be considered.
Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October: Public Vote
Shortlisted founders will take part in a public voting campaign, with two founders progressing to the semi-final.
October: Semi-Finalists Announced and Coaching Begins
Twelve semi-finalists will be selected and receive tailored support to strengthen their proposition, investment case and pitch.
Early November: Semi-Final
Twelve founders will pitch online to a judging panel, with four progressing to the Grand Final.
Tuesday 1 December: Grand Final
Four finalists will pitch live in London to judges, investors and guests for the opportunity to secure investment and support.